David Newton, a classically trained sculptor in the European tradition, has dedicated his career to transforming ordinary African American people and forgotten historical moments into unforgettable, timeless monuments of beauty.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Newton was nurtured by a loving family who was struck by his outstanding talent when he was 10 years old. His fifth grade teacher recognized his talent and recommended that his parents help develop it by taking private art lessons from the prominent Detroit artist Charles Mcgee. 

David completed his undergraduate degree in fine arts from Detroit's College of Creative Studies and his Masters of Fine Art degree from the Graduate School of Figurative Arts in New York City. He also studied in Florence, Italy to more closely study the great masters such as Michelangelo and Donatello. Throughout his studies, he was also inspired to portray figures from his ancestral homeland, Africa.

Newton's sculptures offer a refined yet modern interpretation of the African American experience. Admirers of his African statue, “The Sentinel”, at Freedman’s Memorial in Dallas, Texas who stand before this sculpture are made aware of the distant and powerful presence of the African American genesis. It is as if these bronze interpretations - these metaphors of many souls - have actually lived. Newton breathes life into his subjects by means of excellent design and historical detail while igniting each with dignity and magnificent humanity. Newton's sculptures represent great honesty and grand accomplishments.

"Whenever I would gaze upon historically important sculptures to study figurative design, I would come away knowing that there were few figures depicting people of African ancestry,” Newton discovered. “Perhaps more importantly, I was inspired by visions of unsung heroes and heroines  of everyday people, who had made significant contributions to this great country... and I knew I had to capture these people in the same dignified manner as European sculptors before me had immortalized their own images.”

"Each artist must discover his or her own creative compass in order to find a wellspring of artistic inspiration. I am also inspired to depict African Americans in bronze - a color-blind medium - with hope that it may translate for others as a 'color-blind' interpretation of pure, distilled beauty, strength, grace, and form."

Looking at Newton's bronze masterworks - such as Dream of Freedom, Violated Soul, and Echo - tell the tale of mankind’s immersion into the emotions of a stolen people. It is no accident that his art has become the voice of under- privileged citizens of this country - regardless of ancestry.

Public commissions have punctuated his career for nearly two decades. However, it was the national search and selection of David Newton for the commission of Freedman's Memorial in Dallas,Texas that firmly placed him front and center on the national stage. His award-winning Freedman's Cemetery Memorial commemorates the lives of more than 5,000 freed slaves who were buried in a once forgotten cemetery. Newton's superb memorial guarantees that these formerly lost souls will forever be remembered in the universally honored spirit of triumph over adversity. This is a sentiment that all of humanity admires, and because of the genius, talent, and wisdom of master sculptor, David Newton, this admiration shall continue for centuries to come.

When one stands in the presence of Newton's Freedman's Memorial, one feels ennobled. David Newton has a rare gift. He transforms flesh and blood beings into noble bronze symbols of struggle and freedom. This is a gift to be treasured.

-Zella Jackson  THE CLASSICAL GALLERY  Alexandria, Virginia

(313) 605-5012
dnewton61@msn.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
EDUCATION:
Master of Fine Arts 1993
The New York Academy of Art    111 Franklin Street New York, NY
Bachelor of Fine Arts 1989
College of Creative Studies    201 East Kirby Detroit, MI

Studied in Florence, Italy /  Studio Art Centers International 1988
                                                                                                                                                                     
COMMISSIONS:
Four-wall relief for Love Field Airport Dallas Texas in progress
El Vaquero de Fort Worth a ten foot bronze equestrian sculpture 11ft  bronze    Fort Worth TX in progress
Historic Monuments & Timeless Moments And The Re-Opening of
Facing the Rising Sun: Freedman’s Cemetery African American Museum, Historic Fair Park     Dallas, TX  214.565.9026
Black Firefighters’ Memorial    Austin, TX. 2008 (in progress)
Veterans’ Memorial,    Plano TX 2008                                     
Award Sculpture, Juneteenth Film Festival of Dallas. Dallas, TX 2004
Fantasy Animal, 14ft. bronze    Fair Park, Dallas TX 2002
Monument for Freedman’s Memorial, Five over life size bronze sculptures    Dallas, TX 2000 
Monumental bronze Angel. Central City Entertainment Center    Austin, TX 1999
Exterior Reliefs, Dallas World Aquarium    Dallas, TX.1997
Ceremonial Staff, Highland Park Community College    Highland Park MI 1990

AWARDS:
Craftsmanship Award, Fair Park Sculpture Project, Preservation Dallas 2010
Merit Award for Design, Freedman’s Memorial, American Society of Landscape Architects 1997                                                           

EMPLOYMENT:
David Newton Studio    Dallas TX
Creative Arts Center, Figure Sculpture Instructor    Dallas TX
Association of Latino Arts and Studies, Figure Drawing Instructor    Dallas, TX, 2002 present
Design Artist, for Master Plan - Dallas Downtown Parks, Carter & Burgess Engineering     2003
Design Artist, Master Plan, Griggs Park, Dallas TX  Carter & Burgess Engineering 2001-2002                                                  
Design Artist, East Plano Park and Ride Train Station, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Light Rail System, Dallas TX 1997
Sculptor, Studio EIS    NYC 1994
Assistant Sculptor to Michael Curtis 1993-1994 Texas Rangers Stadium exterior reliefs project
Illustrator Ford Motor Co., World Head Quarters 1986-89    Dearborn MI.

MAJOR ART SHOWS:                   
Fort Worth Main Library, 2003
Women’s Museum of Dallas, 2002
Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library, Austin, TX 2000
Trammel Crow Center, 1996     Dallas, TX
Dallas Museum of Art, 1996
African American Museum, Dallas TX. 1996    Dallas, TX
Jacob Javits Center, 1994    New York, NY.
Michigan Outdoor Sculpture Show   Southfield, MI. 1991
Detroit Museum of Art, 1988
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American Art, 1986    Detroit, MI